A noted reporter,author, and humorist. He was a   native of Paducah, started a journalistic career on the Paducah Daily News at age 17. He became  the nation's youngest managing editor at 19. Cobb later worked for the Cincinnati Post and the Louisville Evening Post.   He was first reporter to reach the side of Gov. William Goebel after his assassination in Frankfort in 1900.   He called his story on the shooting of Goebel his finest piece of reporting. At age 28, he went to New York, working for several newspapers there and  began writing a humorous column.   He later turned to magazine writing by, covering World War I for the Saturday Evening Post.  Cobb was a gifted after-dinner speaker and teller of tales; a close friend of and co-star in movies with Will Rogers. It is estimated that he wrote 60 books; tried his hand unsuccessfully at writing drama and musical reviews. He received the  Legion of Honor from France, honorary degrees from two universities, and had parks, drinks, public works, a bridge, hotel, and apartment building named after him. Irvin S Cobb died on March 10, 1944.

Irvin Cobb Museum

A very rare signed photograph of Cobb

I have dozens of typewritten and handwritten letters in my Cobb collection. These few are offered as  a varied sampling to give you a hint of this complex man and his many moods of perfection, generousity, wit, anger, and humor.

A review of an story that he calls "........poetry that is sheer beauty"

A letter to a family friend who Cobb was trying to help jumpstart her career. Cobb references talking to the Cosmopolitian, a studio boss at Fox Films, and a literary broker. None of these efforts were successful but he promises to try again next week.

Cobb is sending  a personal check in the amount of $1,026.00 a hefty sum in 1937 to help bring his building (co-op) on Park Avenue back to a solvent state.

As a Trustee of the Polyclinic Hospital Cobb is atteempting to get a notice in the local papers on their behalf.

Cobb writes: "Did you send Mama copies of the Sounders Story in last Saturdays Sun ? If not why not ? Do it Now !

Cobb writes: "How about the winter rabbit slaughter at Mr. Flints place ?" This letter shows a sporting though odd side !

Irvin Cobb Museum page 2